Painted pony to rein in $300,000 for SWIF
Bill Donovan
Special to the Independent
GALLUP — The horse is simply called "Chase" and
he stands to make the Southwest Indian Foundation hundreds of
thousands of dollars by the time the summer is over.
He's also going to end up being one of the most unique of all
the painted ponies of New Mexico, thanks to the talents of some
20 of the best Native American artists, sculptors, weavers and
silversmiths of this area.
Ever since August, area craftspeople have been working on either
the pony or his accessories while SWIF officials have been working
on a plan that would allow the organization to make some big bucks
to help fund their program to provide area kids — both Native
American and non-natives — a scholarship to get training
in the arts area of their choice.
It's one of those painted ponies that have been attracting attention
not only in New Mexico but nationwide in recent years but unlike
the others, this one will be able to trace its ancestry to not
one famous artist but almost two dozen.
"We hope to have it finished by July," said Rhonda Ray,
the SWIF staffer who has been overseeing the project from the
beginning.
Most of the painting is done. The horse blanket, which is being
woven by the Laughing family, is about three-fourths finished.
Part of the silver bridle and concho studded reins which are being
done by a number of silversmiths including Naveek, Myron Panteoh
and Rick Charlie, is done. Patrick Scott is working on the bronze
feathers.
A group of sculptors, including Oreland Joe, Arvin Marshall, Tim
Washburn and Rick Nez, are now completing two other sculptures
of what SWIF officials expect will be a young Native American
girl and boy that will be situated next to the pony.
Jemez sculptor Cliff Frague is currently working on the creation
of an alabaster base for the pony and once that is completed,
every craftsperson who has had a role in the creation of Chase
(which is derived from the idea of "Children Chasing their
Dreams") will sign it.
Using craftsmen and women from SWIF's annual Reunion of the Masters,
the idea is to come up with a painted pony that will attract the
interest of collectors throughout the nation.
But instead of auctioning the artwork off, as originally planned,
SWIF officials have decided to raffle it off, giving people a
chance to win it by buying one of 300 specially created stock
certificates. Each share of stock will cost $1,000.
The certificates have been specially made so they look like a
piece of art themselves and the owners could, with pride, display
the certificates even if they lose.
But one of the 300, at a special ceremony to be held this summer,
will get ownership of the horse.
"We haven't decided where we will hold the raffle yet,"
said Ray. "We're looking at possibly the Santa Fe Indian
Market, the Sandia Casino or we may just decide to hold it here
in Gallup."
But wherever the reception is held, SWIF officials are expecting
to get a lot of attention not only from collectors of the painted
ponies but from general arts and crafts collectors who may want
to own a one-of-a-kind piece of art.
But there's a twist.
Once the horse is auctioned off, said Ray, SWIF plans to make
an offer that the organization hopes the new owner can't refuse.
"We plan to offer him $20,000 for Chase so that it can stay
here in Gallup," she said.
The benefit to the new owner is that he or she will not only get
the $20,000 but they will also get their name on a plaque saying
they donated the artwork. Oh, yes, they'll also get a tax-write
off for the value of the horse minus the $20,000.
"We'll have to get the horse appraised so the person will
know how much he can write off his taxes," she said.
Because it's so unique, no one knows just how much the horse will
be worth. Other top-of-the line painted ponies have gone for sums
of more than $50,000 but SWIF officials say that because so many
world-famous artists and craftspeople are involved, the sky is
the limit here.
SWIF has already begun selling the 300 shares of stock and Ray
was asked how they came up with that number. Why not 500 and raise
even more money.
But Ray said SWIF officials thought about this for a long time
and felt 500 shares or chances would be too many. "We thought
300 sounded just right," she said.
So far the cost to SWIF has been minimal.
The unpainted horse cost $5,000, with Western Bank coming up with
half of the cost. The craftspeople are donating not only their
time and talent but the materials that are needed as well.
Ray said the plans are to take whatever is raised and put it into
a fund that will provide scholarships for the next several years
to area kids who show talent in various crafts.
| Top |
Bomb scare at Diné Ed Bldg. forces
evacuation
Larry Di Giovanni
Staff Writer
WINDOW ROCK — The Division of Diné Education building
was completely evacuated by noon Thursday due to a bomb threat called
in on a cellular phone.
A caller with a male voice at 9:18 a.m. asked if it was the Division
of Diné Education, then said "I am going to blow you up,"
said Deana Jackson, press officer for Navajo President Joe Shirley
Jr. The male caller apparently had "slurred speech."
Shirley made the decision to begin evacuating the building to ensure
the safety of his employees, Jackson said. They took the rest of the
day off and will return to work this morning. The Navajo Department
of Law Enforcement dispatched a number of units to the two-story education
center to assist in the evacuation. Navajo Police are working with
Navajo Communications Company on tracing the cellular phone call.
Jackson said the bomb threat did not appear to have any tie-in to
national security matters, but added that Shirley and Vice President
Frank Dayish Jr. aren't about to take any chances.
"President Shirley and Vice President Dayish know that this is
high anxiety, high alert time," Jackson said. "Every incident
is to be reported and taken seriously until otherwise notified."
Shirley conducted an emergency meeting of his executive staff, temporary
and permanent division director heads starting at about 3 p.m. to
cover how Navajo Nation emergency responses will be conducted during
these difficult times, Jackson said.
Jackson said about an hour after the bomb threat was called into the
Division of Diné Education, another bomb threat was
made, this one to Ganado High School. She did not have the details
of that threat. A date report requested by the Office of the President
and Vice President revealed no other reports of similar threats, she
said.
The fact that the United States entered a higher state of readiness
in preparation for possible chemical or biological weapons attacks
is well known to Shirley and his staff. The Navajo president, accompanied
by Jackson, attempted to fly into Blanding, Utah, Thursday morning
to wish safe return and Godspeed to Navajo National Guardsmen who
had a parade conducted in their honor before being deployed to the
Middle East. They were unable to land due to fog and had to turn around
and head back to Window Rock, which was a deep disappointment, she
said.
"They are true warriors of the Navajo Nation," Shirley relayed
through Jackson regarding his thoughts on Diné involved in
troop deployments overseas who serve in the armed services. "They
have been called upon to step up and out on behalf of our country,
the United States, and all of its peoples to provide additional safety
measures so we can all continue to enjoy our freedom on a day-to-day
basis."
| Top
|
New movie complex turns ground on city's
eastside
Bill Donovan
Special to the Independent
GALLUP — First the bad news.
Allen Theatres is giving up its lease on the El Morro May 1.
Now the good news.
Instead of losing a theatre, Allen Theatres broke ground Thursday
to build a new movie complex on a piece of land by the east entrance
to Interstate 40.
That complex will house six new state-of-the-art theatres, which will
bring the total of screens in Gallup by the end of this summer to
a record 13.
Just 30 years ago, Gallup only had three screens, located at the Chief
and the El Morro downtown and the Zuni Drive-In, but as the interest
in movies has grown in this area, so, say officials for Allen Theatres,
has the company's commitment to bring in more theatres.
Russell Allen, who is overseeing the building project, said that the
new complex, which is costing upwards of $4 million, should be in
operation by mid or late July.
It will house six screens now but will be constructed in a way that
will allow for the addition of four more screens in the future
as Gallup continues to grow, he said.
The building will be about 20,000 square feet and will have a total
seating capacity of 1,024 people with the smallest theatre holding
124 and the biggest 219. Each will have stadium seating which means
that the rows will be on an incline so that big heads will no longer
block any patron's views.
Each theatre will be digital, giving it the capacity to show the clearest
type of projection available on the market today and like the Aztec
Five, people will be able to buy tickets anytime of the day for any
show.
Unlike some other large movie complexes that have small eating areas
in the lobby, this one will not but Allen said that the new complex
will have frozen drinks which will be new to the area.
One advantage of having 13 screens in town, said Allen, is that Gallup
will be able to get two prints of blockbuster movies more often. This
has happened only twice in the past - with the latest Harry Potter
and Lord of the Rings movies - but it should occur more often in the
future, Allen said.
As for the El Morro, Allen said his company signed a three-year lease
for the theatre with a local Catholic organization in May of 2000
and has decided that it just is not feasible to extend that lease.
"We think that movies that play there are only doing between
75 and 80 percent of what they would have done at the other theatres
in town," he said.
The reason may be the parking situation or there may be other factors
but the bottom line is that the poor showing of the films there is
causing problems for Allen Theatres to book films from the distributor
who want the movies to play where they will attract the most customers.
It's going to be located in the far eastern portion of Gallup which
may surprise some people who thought that any future theatre development
would go in the Rio West Mall or Wal-Mart area.
The land is cheaper in the eastern portion of town, said Allen, and
Gallup is so small that the company is probably thinking that no matter
where the complex is located, the people will come.
"It's right near the exit off the Interstate which will make
it very accessible," Allen said.
He said that it has been his experience in the past that having a
movie complex in an area where there is no real development creates
a stimulus for some new businesses, usually in the form of restaurants,
to spring up around the complex in the years following its opening.
The new complex, which is right now tentatively being called Red Rock
Six, will bring Allen Theatres to a total of 80 screens
across the state. It will also make Gallup third in size as far as
the number of Allen Theatre screens are concerned, behind Las Cruces
with 20 and Farmington with 15.
| Top |
Hi-speed chase puts 3 in jail
Andrea Egger
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Police arrested three men after a high speed chase through
western Gallup, after side swiping numerous cars in the Gallup High
School parking lot, Thursday afternoon.
According to Gallup Police a car was exiting the high school parking
lot around 3:30 p.m. when the driver, identified as Kevin Concho,
18, sideswiped several vehicles and then left the scene. Police were
summoned. Undercover narcotics officers heard the call and drove to
the area. Officers spotted the car and began a pursuit along Highway
66 heading west, White said.
"It (the car) almost hit us," said a pursuit officer as
the car sped westbound down Hwy. 66.
By 3:37 p.m. law enforcement got the car cornered at mile marker 13
on N.M. 118 near the Manuelito Childrens home near Williams Acres
where Concho, was charged with DWI, aggravated battery against a police
officer, and resisting and obstructing of a police officer. Nathaniel
Evans, 21 and Harlan Saunders, 18, were taken into custody and charged
with resisting and obstructing a police officer. All three were transported
to the McKinley County Adult Detention Center. Concho had an outstanding
warrant for a $500 cash bond for aggravated DWI with bodily injury.
| Top
|
Bengals end losing streak at home, 55-50
Gallup moves into tie for third place in 1-5A
Alan Arthur
Assistant Sports Editor
GALLUP — The losing streak ended where it began.
The Gallup Bengals broke their three-game losing skid with a 55-50
District 1-5A boys basketball victory over the West Mesa Mustangs
Thursday night at Gallup High School.
It was here that the Bengals' problems began when they dropped their
first district game to the Valley Vikings nearly two weeks ago and
then suffered a disastrous road trip with losses to the Cibola Cougars
and the Rio Grande Ravens last weekend, dropping them to fourth place.
With the victory, the Bengals improved to 14-5 overall and 4-3 in
the district and moved back into a tie for third place following Rio
Grande's 55-48 loss to Cibola Thursday. Valley and Cibola remain tied
for first place with 6-1 district marks as Valley outlasted Rio Rancho
56-55 Thursday. West Mesa is in last place with a 5-14 overall record
and a 0-7 district mark.
"This is a big win. After three losses in a row, you have to
win the games you are supposed to, especially home games," Gallup
head coach Ryan Cordova said. "It's a big win for us."
The Bengals led from start to finish and held an 11-point advantage
early in the fourth quarter but still let things get interesting at
the finish.
"It's nice to have the lead throughout but we have to get that
lead and expand on it," Cordova said. "We can't just get
that lead and give them back five points. Before we would take that
lead and continue to smash them. Now, we're taking the lead and we're
letting up a little bit when we should be attacking."
Gallup was up 49-38 with 4:05 to go following a three-point shot from
Domonic Romero. The Bengals then went on a scoring drought and West
Mesa fought back, finally getting to within a point at 49-48 with
1:25 to go following a three-point shot from Lawrence Vargas.
Robb Erickson put down a pair of free throws with 1:11 left to give
the Bengals a three-point advantage. With a chance to possibly tie
the game, West Mesa's Joseph Hernandez was called for a double dribble
violation.
After fouling, West Mesa sent Romero to the free throw line. Romero
nailed both shots to give the Bengals a 53-48 lead with 48.3 seconds
showing on the clock.
Still, Gallup missed four straight free throws down the stretch, giving
West Mesa numerous chances.
After Daniel Guliford missed the front end of his one-and-one, West
Mesa's Jayson Lueras made both of his free throws to get the Mustangs
within 53-50 with 27.4 seconds remaining.
Erickson then missed the front end of his one-and-one, but West Mesa's
Hernandez was again called for double dribble, turning the ball over.
Gallup's Fermin Gallegos missed both of his foul shots, but the Bengals
battled for the offensive rebounds, before Gallegos was finally fouled
with 1.7 seconds left.
This time, Gallegos hit both free throws to give the Bengals the 55-50
victory.
Gallegos was the main reason the Bengals were leading 27-20 at halftime.
Gallegos made six of his seven shots from the field, including going
2-for-2 from three-point range as he scored 14 points in the first
half.
Gallegos scored Gallup's first six points to start the game with a
6-0 Bengal lead. In the second quarter, when the Bengals opened the
period by missing their first five shots, all from three-point range,
Gallegos ended the drought with a three-pointer that gave Gallup a
17-11 lead.
After West Mesa cut the margin to 17-15, Gallegos hit a jumper and
a three-point shot to increase the Bengals' lead back to 22-15.
Gallegos finished with a team-high 16 points.
In the second quarter, other Bengal players found their shots. Guliford,
scoreless in the first half, scored seven points in the third quarter,
including a nifty three-point play after driving to the hole and getting
fouled while getting the shot to drop. That play put the Bengals up
36-28.
In the fourth quarter, Romero tallied nine points, including an inside
shot after driving the baseline that gave the Bengals a 44-35 lead.
Romero finished with 14 points and Guliford had seven points and four
assists.
During the losing streak, the Bengals had problems on the defensive
end. Against West Mesa, the Bengals did well even though Mustang Julius
Holt burned them for 19 points inside the lane.
"I was pleased with the defensive effort. We held them to 50
points," Cordova said. "But we have to be more productive,
even on offense. We're trying to spread it out and get easier shots
and we're getting turnovers. That's okay. That's something we can
work on."
Cordova felt the game was decided by rebounds and turnovers. Gallup
outrebounded the Mustangs 27-21 and had fewer turnovers with 10 compared
to 17 for West Mesa.
"That's what it comes down to," Cordova said. "In district
ballgames, if you can play defense, the other things will take care
of themselves."
The Bengals will host the Rio Rancho Rams Saturday night for their
next game. The Rams are coming off their one-point loss to Valley
on Thursday night.
"You're going to see a kid named Kevin Mathis from Rio Rancho
and he can really shoot it," Cordova said. "We're going
to have to contain him."
| Top |
Conditions perfect for Grants Quadrathlon
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
GRANTS — Conditions are near perfect for the 44-mile Mount
Taylor Winter Quadrathlon scheduled for Saturday.
There's no other race like it in the world ... period. Ask any of
the more than 500 competitors who come from all over America to
compete and say they were a part of it...
| Top |
500 years later — Dracula is still looking for love
Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Special to the Independent
GALLUP — Dracula hadn't even arrived in Gallup before many
of the flyers announcing his arrival had been snatched up from bulletin
boards and storefront windows.
Edward Bird, the writer and director of "Dracula: The Love
Story," is flattered that the stylish flyers have caught the
attention of collectors in town - supposedly teenage Goths, but
Bird is dismayed that as a result, many people are unaware that
the play is being staged this week...
| Top |
40 Navajos to be trained to detect welding
strengths
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — Three agencies have joined together in
a deal to train 40 Navajos to test the strength of metal welds.
The Navajo Nation's Workforce Development Department has partnered
with the Indian Education Training Center and the Salt Lake
Community College in Utah to provide the classroom training
in the non-destructive testing techniques of dye penetration,
radiography, ultra sound, magnetism and visual inspection...
Deaths
Guadalupe I. Rodriguez
GALLUP — Graveside services for Guadalupe I. Rodriguez,
65, will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 15 at Sunset Memorial
Park. Elder Daniel Castro will officiate.
Rodriguez died Feb. 9 at Gallup. He was born Dec. 12, 1937
in Navajo, N.M.
Rodriguez family moves to Gallup in 1942 and he was a resident
for the rest of his life. For the last eight years he was
a
member of the Gallup Congregation of the Jehovah's Witnesses.
He worked for the United Mattress Company for many
years. He also worked at Bargain Barn and Santa Fe Leather
Company. He enjoyed fishing, traveling and being with family
and friends.
Survivors include his sister, Inez R. Ramirez and Pauline
Rodriguez both of Gallup; brother, Alexander Rodriguez of
Rio
Rancho; by numerous nephews and nieces.
Rodriguez was preceded in death by his parents, Jesus and
Josephina Rodriguez; sisters, Margaret Chaves and Jessioe
Ranjel.
The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial
services at Commity Service Center.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Leonard N. Hunt
HOLBROOK, Ariz. — Services for Leonard Hunt, 52, will
be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 15 at Rollie Mortuary Palm
Chapel. Pastor Scott Tafoya will officiate. Burial will follow
at Sunset Memorial Park.
Hunt died Feb. 11 at Holbrook. He was born March 21, 1950
in Gallup into the Satl People Clan for the Meadow People
Clan.
Survivors include his sons, Virgil Hunt and Riley Yazzie both
of Bread Springs; and sisters, Clara Bernal Kilburn of Gamerco,
Christine Charley, Carol Yazzie and Rosemary Yazzie all of
Gallup.
Hunt was preceded in death by his parents, Caroline Hunt and
Warren Yazzie; brothers, Donald Yazzie and Jerry Yazzie;
grandparents, Agnes and Billy Long.
Pallbearers will be Roland Bernal, Arnold Joe, Larry Livingston
Jr., Anthony Mike, Andy Patterson and Wilfred L. Tom.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Eric Begay
GALLUP — Services for Eric Begay, 31. will be held at
11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 15 at Grace Navajo Bpatist Church,
Gallup.
Pastor Ted Farris will officiate. Burial will follow at Gallup
City Cemetery.
Begay died April 10 in Pinedale. He was born April 08, 1971
in Gallup into the Meadow People Clan for the Bitter Water
People Clan.
Begay attended Gallup High School. He worked for Gallup McKinley
County School at Gallup Junior High School, Giants
Station, eastside of town and Cal-Mart food Store. His hobbies
included fishing and traveling.
Survivors include his wife, Magdalene Begay of Gallup; sons,
Christian S. Begay of Gallup; daughers, Amber T. Begay and
Alyssa James of Gallup; parents, Ernest Begay of Chinle, Ariz.;
brothers, Ervin Begay , Eitol Billie and Chicago of Tuners
and
sisters, Arlene Begay and Aretha Begay both of Tiwn Buttes.
Begay was preceded in death by his mother, Angella Billie
Begay and grandparents, Mary and Jack Billie.
Pallbearers will be Ervin Begay, Robertson Chee, Elliot Yazzie,
Errol Billie, Tommy Nelson Jr. and T. J. Woods.
The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial
services at Grace Navajo Baptist Church.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Don Perry Lewis, Sr.
GALLUP — Services for Don Lewis, Sr., 63, will be announced
at a later date.
Lewis Sr. died Feb. 13 in Gallup. He was born Feb. 15, 1939
in Muskogee, Okla.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Paul A. Natonabah
FORT DEFIANCE, Ariz. — Services for Paul Natonabah, 61,
will be announced at a later date.
Natonabah died Feb. 12 in Flagstaff. He was born Nov. 8, 1941
in Fort Defiance into the Red Running into the Water People
Clan for the Tangle People Clan.
A family meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, at Good
Shephard Mission, Fort Defiance.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Contact the Gallup Independent
Please send the Gallup Independent feedback on
this website and the paper in general.
E-mail: gallpind@cia-g.com
By mail:
The Independent
PO Box 1210 Gallup, NM 87305
500 N. 9th Gallup, NM 87301
All contents property of the Gallup
Independent.
Any duplication or republication requires consent of the Gallup
Independent.
Feel free to send any questions or comments to gallpind@cia-g.com
|
